A Taste for Murder cast led by Warren Brown, Phyllis Logan, and teenager Beau Gadsdon
We demand a job as an extra!
A Taste for Murder has everything you need from a crime drama – stunning locations, a gripping multi-layered murder mystery, and a cast of TV favourites. Throw in a scary Mafia family and it’s as good as it gets.
Somewhere between cosy crime and crime drama, this Warren Brown series is from the creator of Hotel Portofino. So you know you’re in good hands.
The six-parter introduces DCI Joe Mottram who, after the sudden death of his wife Sofia, takes a much-needed sabbatical with his daughter Angelica. They head to Italy, where Sofia was born and where her parents still live, running a popular restaurant.
However, the off-duty cop is soon called to assist in some pretty shady goings-on in the murky underworld of Capri… So who plays who in the cast of A Taste of Murder? Here’s a rundown of the key players.
A Taste for Murder cast: Warren Brown plays DCI Joe Mottram
Warrington-born Warren Brown, 47, stars as grieving detective DCI Joe Mottram in the cast of A Taste for Murder. He escapes to sun-soaked Capri but soon finds a darker side to island life.
Warren Brown has been on our screens for two decades, ever since he first appeared as Donny Maguire in two episodes of Shameless in 2004. A year later, he popped up as villain Andy Holt in four episodes of Hollyoaks, and subsequent spin-offs Hollyoaks: No Going Back, Hollyoaks: Back from the Dead, and Hollyoaks: Crossing the Line. His character famously died after being impaled on a spike!
After brief appearances in Jane Hall, Life on Mars, Mobile, Coming Up, and Spooks: Code 9, he won the role of Marky in Dead Set. The series was a thriller spoof of Big Brother.
Between 2007 and 2009, Warren played Alex in the Sheridan Smith drama Grownups. Other notable roles include Marcus in Inside Men, John Paul Rocksavage in Good Cop, Joe Mancetta in Homefront, and Jack Quinn in By Any Means.
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In 2010, he won arguably one of his most popular roles to date. He played DS Justin Ripley in Idris Elba detective drama Luther. And, once again, viewers saw him die a painful death when his popular character was shot in the chest.
The actor subsequently portrayed Raymond Mullen in The Responder series 1 and 2. Raymond was a jobsworth police officer, intent on bringing down the main character Chris, played by Martin Freeman.
Warren has also proven his leading man credentials in Strike Back, Trigger Point, X Company, Liar, and The Gathering. Basically if it was any good, Warren was probably in it.
Phyllis Logan plays Elena Da Vinale
Scottish actress Phyllis Logan, 69, plays Elena Da Vinale in the cast of A Taste for Murder. And she’s no stranger to cosy crime, having recently played Puzzle Lady Cora Felton in the cast of Channel 5 cosy crime drama Murder Most Puzzling.
Of course, the BAFTA award-winning actress is best known for playing Mrs Hughes (aka the now married Mrs Carson) in the award-winning Downton Abbey. Phyllis portrayed the head housekeeper from 2010 to 2015 in the TV series, as well as the subsequent three films.
Phyllis has actually been on our screens for nearly five decades, having made her very first TV appearance in 1977. That year, she debuted in the TV movie The Red Dress. After working as a jobbing actress for several years, she subsequently won the biggest role of her career playing Lady Jane Felsham in Lovejoy.
Between 1986 and 1994, the haughty English aristocrat Lady Jane Felsham enjoyed the central will they/won’t they romance with the roguish antiques dealer, played by Ian McShane.
Other notable roles include Sqn. Ldr. Helen Knox in Invasion: Earth, Muriel McKendrick in Holby City, Annie Gilbert in Hope and Glory, and Maggie Smart in The Good Karma Hospital. More recently, she’s portrayed Maggie Lynch in Scottish drama Guilt, Grace Bain in Shetland, Moira Shearer in The Bombing of Pan Am 103, and Mrs Austen in Miss Austen.
Phyllis has also been in tonnes of films, too. In 1996, she played Monica in the award-winning Secrets & Lies opposite Brenda Blethyn.
Beau Gadsdon stars as Angelica Mottram
Nineteen-year-old Beau Gadsdon stars as Joe’s daughter Angelica Mottram, who desperately needs some TLC after the tragic death of her mum 11 months ago.
The actress started when she was just a child, and has appeared onscreen opposite some hugely famous people – including Sheridan Smith, Matthew Macfadyen, and Mads Mikkelsen. She’s even appeared in a Harry Styles video, so this girl can do some serious name-dropping.
She made her first screen appearance in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, playing Young Jyn. She was just nine at the time. Bean went on to mini-Harry Styles in his music video Kiwi, before popping up in episodes of Genius, Quiz – playing Charles Ingram’s daughter – The Duchess, and Domina.
She’s also appeared in the TV dramas The Baby, Treason, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Ellis. The Crown fans might recognise her as a young Princess Margaret, a role she played between 2016 and 2023.
In 2022, Beau led the cast as Lily in The Railway Children Return, before she played the possessed Dawn Smurl in 2025’s terrifying The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Her other film roles include young Lisbeth Salander in The Girl in the Spider’s Web, Enid in Censor, Freya Wyley in The Critic, and Elizabeth in Here.
James Anderson portrays Nick Mayweather in episode 4
Surrey-born actor James Anderson pops up as ill-fated Nick Mayweather in the cast of A Taste for Murder episode 4. Don’t get attached to him, though. He doesn’t last very long!
Of course, Holby City fans will know James for playing Oliver ‘Ollie’ Valentine in the BBC medical drama. He portrayed the popular character on and off between 2009 and 2021. Boyishly charming, the character soon became a favourite with fans. However, his talents weren’t quite up to scratch.
He endangered patients and made a series of medical errors, which forced him to admit that he cheated on an exam at medical school… Ollie began a downward spiral, and reached “rock bottom” when his sister Penny was killed off. He nearly died himself after being shot in the head during a dramatic shoot out.
As well as his role in Holby, James played Pete Shepherd in the 2008 drama Rock Rivals. He’s been a bit of a stranget to our screens of late, having only popped up in episodes of Endeavour, FBI: International, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Professor T, and The Lady.
Cast of Italian actors in A Taste for Murder
There’s a large cast of Italian actors in A Taste for Murder. The majority are known for their roles in Italian TV and film, although some will be known to British viewers.
Naples-born Cristiana Dell’Anna, 40, stars as Inspector Lara Sarrancino. She is known to Italian TV audiences as Patrizia in the crime syndicate drama Gomorrah. So she’ll feel right at home on A Taste for Murder! It’s not her first English-language acting role, though, as she previously played the lead role in the 2024 film Cabrini, which was an American production and filmed in English. She also appeared in the 2018 series Trust.
Urbano Barberini plays chef Gennaro Da Vinale. Urbano was born in Rome, and is 64 years of age. To UK audiences, he’ll be best known as Tomelli in the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale. A minor character, he was one of the 10 high-stakes poker players competing against James Bond and Le Chiffre in the tournament at the Casino Royale.
Pasquale Esposito, who plays Commissario Curti, is perhaps more recognisable to UK viewers. He played Pucci in the 2024 Netflix drama Ripley, Vincenzo Danioni in Hotel Portofino, and Enzo Rocco in an episode of Industry.
Who else is in the cast?
Alessandro Fella, who plays Luca Da Vinale, is known in Italy for his roles in Jarno ja Minä (Ride Out), and Il Paradiso delle Signore (The Ladies’ Paradise).
Naples-born Gaia Scodellaro portrays Daria Soistano. The actress portrayed Aminah in the 2023 Denzel Washington film The Equalizer 3, and Monique in State of Consciousness. She’s also popped up in the US series That Dirty Black Bag, and Signora Volpe. In 2015, she portrayed Sister Celine in You, Me and the Apocalypse.
Marouane Zotti plays Deputy Inspector Gianni Gallo. He’s been on tonnes of British and US TV series, including I May Destroy You, Steal, and Survival of the Thickest. He’s actually Morrocan, not Italian at all!
Carolina Gonnelli plays Joe’s dead wife Sofia Da Vinale in flahsbacks. But Hotel Portofino fans will remember her as Paola.
A Taste for Murder cast list includes:
Warren Brown as DCI Joe Mottram.
Cristiana Dell’Anna as Inspector Lara Sarrancino.
Beau Gadsdon as Angelica Mottram.
Phyllis Logan as Elena Da Vinale.
Alessandro Bedetti as Daniele Russo.
Pasquale Esposito as Commissario Curti.
Alessandro Fella as Luca Da Vinale.
Gaia Scodellaro as Daria Soistano.
Vedran Miler as Matteo Capasso.
Marouane Zotti as Deputy Inspector Gianni Gallo.
Vlasto Ivanovic as Nico Massi.
Carolina Gonnelli as Sofia Da Vinale.
Tea Šimic as Bianca Capasso.
Matteo Franco as Dante Patalano.
Annamaria Serda as Juliet.
James Anderson as Nick Mayweather (in episode 4).
